When will you get to see Disney's new-and-improved Fantasyland?

The Internet is abuzz with excitement about the new-and-improved Fantasyland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

When we stayed in our Regal Palms Resort townhouse in November, we had the pleasure of checking out several of the new attractions--including the all-new Little Mermaid ride and the larger (and more efficient) Ariel's Grotto. We also got to meet other mainstay characters in the Big Top Souvenirs tent.

It's amazing how Disney can take something great...and make it even better!

If you and your family would like to visit Walt Disney World and you're looking for spacious and affordable accommodations just minutes from Magic Kingdom, take a closer look at our privately owned townhouse at Regal Palms Resort.

Summer fun at Regal Palms: Booking up fast!

So far, 2012 is proving to be a very busy year for our four-bedroom townhouse at Regal Palms Resort!

We were very booked throughout February, March and April--and the summer months are filling up fast. We still have availability in most of May and June, and limited availability in July and August.

Speaking of May and June... If you have the flexibility to travel then, it's a great time to enjoy milder weather and lighter crowds.

Check out the photos of our unit and then call us at 1-888-353-6600 or visit our website to find out more!

Ascension Day Spa at Regal Palms Resort

If you'd like to enjoy a little pampering during your stay at Regal Palms Resort, be sure to check out Ascension Day Spa. Located in the pool/clubhouse area, the spa offers a full complement of services, including:

• Massage Therapy -- Choose from 30, 60 or 90 minute sessions using a variety of techniques (Swedish, Hot Sone, Deep Tissue)
• Skin Care -- Spa Facial, Re-Hydrating, Deep Pore Cleansing, Age-Defying, Microdermabrasion and even Chemcial Peels
• Nail Care -- Mani/Pedi, Spa Mani/Pedi or Polish Change
• Hair Care -- Cuts, Color, Styles, Highlights, Extensions, Up Do's
• Waxing
• Teeth Whitening
• Other Enhancements -- Foot/Hand Scrub, Paraffin Dip, Aromatherapy

You can even buy a Scalp Massage or Foot Reflexology -- just $10 for 10 minutes.

And if your little princess likes pampering, too, take advantage of the spa's "Under 14" offerings. Choose a Mini Manicure ($10), Mini Pedicure ($15) and/or a Mini Facial ($20). (On a related note, our young daughter got a mani/pedi at the nail salon by Publix, and their prices were WAY higher than Ascension's! Next time we'll definitely be taking advantage of the "Mini" services.)

The spa is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 352-200-2970 to learn more or to book your appointment! Then sit back, relax and enjoy...

Ho-Ho-Holidays: A Great Time to Visit Regal Palms Resort!

Just realized that our last blog post was all the way back in September. Whew--guess we blinked and fall flew by!

Now it's December...time to think about the holidays, where you'll spend them, and with whom.

Our four-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse in Regal Palms Resort and Spa usually books up for the holidays months in advance. But this year, you're lucky: It's still available for you and your loved ones.

And this year, the resort is hosting a variety of holiday happenings:

• Breakfast with Santa. On December 22 and 23, Santa will be taking a quick break from the hustle and bustle to have breakfast with Regal Palms guests of all ages! 

• Christmas Dinner in the Bamboo Tiki Bar & Grill. On Christmas Day, the Regal Palms restaurant will be offering a traditional Christmas dinner--along with other tasty options at the cold and hot buffets, carving station, and pasta station. (Having spent the last two Thanksgivings at Regal Palms, we highly recommend the restaurant's holiday buffet. It's convenient, delicious, affordably priced, and--best of all--you don't have to shop, cook, OR clean!)

• New Year's Eve Bash. Join live band "Punch 'n' Judy" as they perform on the outdoor stage at the clubhouse/pool complex and DJ Dave as he hosts a dance party inside the clubhouse. Enjoy plenty of food and drinks--including a Champagne toast at midnight--and save $10 off the adult and child (ages 6 to 10) prices if you book online! 

Ready to celebrate at Regal Palms?
To inquire about staying in our townhouse, please call Susan at 1-888-353-6600 or shoot us an email at info@regalpalmsresort.com.

Question: Which Central Florida attractions are a short drive from Regal Palms?

Answer: Just about all of them!

One of the things we love most about Regal Palms Resort is its proximity not only to Walt Disney World, but also to a host of other Central Florida attractions.

If you're planning a trip to Orlando, consider booking our townhouse in Regal Palms Resort. It offers the spaciousness of four bedrooms and three full bathrooms, as well as the convenience of a washer, dryer, and fully equipped kitchen.

Thanks to the resort's location off US-27 between US-192 and I-4, it also means you'll be just:

• 20 minutes from Walt Disney World
• 30 minutes from Sea World
• 35 minutes from LEGOLAND Florida (opening soon!)
• 35 minutes from Universal Studios Orlando
• 60 minutes from Busch Gardens in Tampa
• 90 minutes from the Kennedy Space Center
• 100 minutes from Clearwater Beach on the West Coast or 100 minutes to Daytona Beach on the East Coast

In short, Regal Palms Resort gives you ultimate access to everything Orlando and Central Florida have to offer. To check rates and availability, visit our website or call Susan toll-free at 1-888-353-6600.

Columbia Restaurant in Celebration

As promised, during our most recent visit to Regal Palms Resort, we once again visited Celebration, Florida. This time, we enjoyed dinner on the patio at Columbia Restaurant, which bills itself as Florida's oldest.

We enjoyed the "downtown" location, friendly service, and picturesque views. More important, we loved the food--particularly "The Original 1905 Salad." If you get to Columbia in Celebration (or one of the family-owned restaurant's six other locations), be sure to enjoy this delightful combination of Iceberg lettuce, julienne of baked ham, Swiss cheese, tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese, and Columbia's delicious garlic dressing. While I thoroughly enjoyed my entree (Mariscos Diablos), next time I'm going to make a meal out of the 1905 and the fresh-baked Cuban bread.

Remember, Celebration is a short drive from Regal Palms Resort. If you're interested in staying in our four-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse, my husband and I invite you to check rates and availability at our website. Or, give me a call at 1-888-353-6600!

Celebration, Florida: What a beautiful town...

During one of our recent visits to Regal Palms Resort, we took a short drive to Celebration, Florida. As you may know, Celebration was originally planned and designed by Disney. So, you can imagine how beautiful and "thought out" the town center and residential areas are!

In the town center--which is about a 15-minute drive from Regal Palms Resort--we discovered a host of restaurants, unique boutiques, and an idyllic lake surrounded by a walking trail.

We also found a Starbucks--so we grabbed an after-dinner beverage and enjoyed a leisurely stroll through town.

The next time we're in Florida, we're planning to head back to Celebration to enjoy some picture-perfect outdoor dining! We'll let you know which restaurant we pick (and what we think). In the meantime, you may want to spend some time in Celebration, too. You can learn more about the town--and upcoming special events--at the Celebration website.

As always, if you're interested in booking a stay at our four-bedroom, three-bathroom Regal Palms Resort townhouse, check out our website and then call Susan at 1-888-353-6600.

Great tip: Port Canaveral Transportation Service

One of our blog readers has given us a fantastic tip!

If you're going to be staying at Regal Palms but aren't renting a car--or if you have folks arriving at the airport at different times--take a look at Port Canaveral Transportation Service. The website is extremely user friendly and lets you get a quick quote on a variety of vehicles--from four-passenger Town Cars to 14-passenger luxury vans! (It looks like it's about $80 to transport four passengers in a Town Car from the Orlando International Airport to the Davenport area. Round trip runs $155.)

"Amazing memories"

We always enjoy hearing from our guests. We got this email from a recent guest--a mother with several young children:

"Our time in your condo was wonderful...  My 3 1/2 year old loved your daughter's princess bed and was very grateful for the loan of it. 

"We all had a wonderful vacation and made some amazing memories.  

"Thank you for all the time and patience you showed getting us there. We hope to do it again next year."       

Ready to make amazing memories?

Visit our Regal Palms Resort website to see if our four-bedroom unit is available when you need it. If you have any questions, just call Susan at 1-888-353-6600!

LEGOLAND Florida -- Coming Soon!

In October, Central Florida will welcome a brand-new theme park: LEGOLAND. Located in Winter Haven, the park will be just 27 miles (or about 40 minutes) door to door from our townhouse at Regal Palms Resort.

LEGOLAND Florida--which is geared for children aged 2 through 12--features more than 50 rides, "hands-on" attractions and shows. We've explored the LEGOLAND Florida website, and we can't wait to check it out this fall!

If you want to get really excited, check out the LEGOLAND Florida video... and then visit our Regal Palms Resort website to see if we have availability when you need beautiful, spacious accommodations!

(Remember: Regal Palms Resort is also just minutes from Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Orlando, and Sea World. Busch Gardens Tampa is about an hour away, too.)

Feedback from a recent guest...

"Hi, Susan,

I just wanted to let you know that we had a fantastic time in Florida and really appreciate all of the amenities you've added to your townhouse. Our daughter loved the toys (since we fly in, it is difficult to bring a lot of our own). Thank you so much for all of the thought and effort that went into making your vacation home a great place to stay."

* * *

It's always great to hear this kind of feedback. And, we'd love the chance to show YOU and YOUR FAMILY how comfortable and convenient our townhouse can be! If you're planning a trip to the Orlando area, take a look at our website or give me a call at 1-888-353-6600 for more information about what our townhouse in Regal Palms Resort has to offer!

Miller's Orlando Ale House

During our most recent visit to Regal Palms Resort, we stopped by Miller's Orlando Ale House at its relatively new location on US-192.

We were there for lunch and dined on the covered--but open-air--patio. The menu offered a wide variety of classic "pub grub," all at very reasonable prices. In particular, we liked the house specialty of chicken "Zingers"--narrow strips of fried chicken breast that come in your choice of  nine sauces... Mild, Medium, Hot, Mt. St. Helens, Garlic, BBQ, Teriyaki, Honey Mustard, and Sweet Thai Chili. We opted for the Medium and had the Zingers over a salad. Delicious!

Miller's Orlando Ale House is a quick ride from Regal Palms--and it's right on the way to the Disney attractions. If you're looking for delicious, reasonably priced food and very friendly, Southern-style service, add Miller's to your list of Disney-area eateries.

Medical care near Regal Palms

When you're on vacation, the LAST thing you want to deal with is illness or injury. But sometimes Murphy's Law prevails, and a little one spikes a fever, Mom gets a stomach bug, or Dad injures his knee.

If you're staying at Regal Palms, there's a convenient urgent care facility just a few miles away on US-27. As you exit the resort, turn left on Sand Mine Road, and then make another left on to US-27. You'll find Paramount Urgent Care adjacent to Starbucks (and in front of Lowe's) at 628 Cagan View Road in Clermont.

Paramount Urgent Care is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. It's a convenient and cost-effective alternative to the ER. And, with any luck, these clinicians will help get your vacation be back on track in no time!